Business of soap

 

“Splendid, you two can stay here with these uncles for now,” Jing Yi instructed.

 

“Manager, I’m sorry about the misunderstanding earlier. If you’re available, can we go ahead and sign the contract up front? And if you’re not busy, would you do me the honor of sharing a meal? I’ll be the host,” Jing Yi proposed.

 

Jing Yi nodded in apology to the slave manager and returned to the front of the compound, bringing him with him.

 

The slave manager, who understood the complexity of official procedures, kindly declined, saying, “You’re too kind, dear guest. I appreciate your compassion and benevolence. No need for a meal, official rules are strict, I hope you understand.”

 

Jing Yi understood and agreed. He knew that officials with such a lucrative position as a slave manager had to be cautious with their actions.

 

They entered the shop at the entrance to do the calculations. The official rules were strict and specific. Young and middle-aged men cost eight taels, skilled individuals cost ten taels, and literate ones cost twelve taels. Women and men for general labor cost six taels. Children above ten years of age cost five taels, while those under ten cost three taels.

 

These prices were set with the consideration of the compassion of local officials and the aim to prevent the involvement of unsavory elements in the sale of these refugees. Otherwise, the prices for attractive children could have been much higher. But all of them would fall into a pit of despair from this point onwards.

 

As Jing Yi looked at the prices, his heart was finally stirred. Seeing people being bought and sold, marked with a price, he truly recognized the cruelty and ruthlessness of feudal society. This experience would make him act even more carefully in the future.

 

In the end, Jing’s family purchased four men, one woman, the entire family of Tong Mujie, and the two young child couple. They also provided money for Tong’s family to see a doctor and buy medicine, totaling eighty-eight taels of silver.

 

Lin’s family purchased three agricultural workers, two men, and a fourteen-year-old boy for a total of forty taels even. After deducting the manager’s commission and official fees, the money would go directly to the refugees they purchased, ensuring a reliable transaction.

 

Once the money was handed over, the contracts were written and signed, bearing the official seal of Qingzhou Prefecture. The registration system of the Da Yuan Dynasty was strict, and each person had their own status. Military personnel had military status, scholars had scholar status, and commoners had commoner status. Craftsmen and laborers had their own designations, and, of course, slaves had slave status. The hierarchy was highly structured.

 

Under this strict system, there were very few cases of slaves revolting against their masters, mainly because the master had full authority over their slave’s status. Even for someone to redeem themselves, they had to obtain their master’s consent.

 

Jing Yi privately handed three taels of silver to the slave manager – one tael was a gratuity, and the remaining two taels were a clear request for continued lodging at the slave manager’s residence. The day after tomorrow, when they left the city, Jing Yi would come to pick them up.

 

The slave manager weighed the silver he received in his hand and repeatedly assured that everything was fine. He cheerfully saw off the generous guest who handled matters so smoothly.

 

Leaving the slave management office, Jing Yi took his family to a well-reputed restaurant to have a meal. During the meal, as he noticed the somber atmosphere around the table, he couldn’t help but offer some comforting words.

 

“Before we came to the capital, we had all been vaccinated against potential illnesses. The refugees who have traveled great distances must be suffering. But if you think about Uncle Meng in our village, he was a refugee too, and now he’s living a prosperous life!”

 

Indeed, since Uncle Meng had partnered with Jing Yi, his life had changed drastically. Not only had he built a new house, but he also expanded his flock of sheep. Rumor had it that he was about to arrange a marriage for his children.

 

Jing Yi’s words improved the atmosphere at the table, and he patted the head of Xiao Jiang, who was sitting nearby, saying, “These people who have chosen to sell themselves surely had compelling reasons. Now that we’re all at our home, things will definitely get better in the future.”

 

Of course, the prerequisite was that these people wouldn’t break the rules, though there was no need to mention that explicitly.

 

After the meal, they each went their separate ways. Lin’s father and Jing’s father went shopping for gifts for the family members who remained at home.

 

Jing Yi, along with Chuxia, went to buy a warm set of clothes for each of the people they purchased, given the distance they had to travel and the lack of proper insulation in the carriage.

 

This time, they went to a large market outside the city gate of Qingzhou Prefecture. The goods there were brought in by farmers from the surrounding villages. The prices were cheap, and the quality was decent, making it a popular destination for the city’s ordinary residents.

 

But it was more like a city-market than the city’s main square.

 

Jing Yi guided Chixia through the bustling marketplace, with various products on display. However, they first needed to buy essential items. After that, Jing Yi accompanied him to explore more.

 

The servants of the Lin and Jing families each received a set of warm underclothes and a set of thick, well-made cotton clothes and pants. The quality was evident, and the craftsmanship was fine. They also bought socks and cotton shoes for additional warmth.

 

Jing Yi also bought them bamboo tubes to use as water containers and some inexpensive badger oil. This way, if anyone suffered frostbite during the journey, they could use the oil to soothe it and avoid complications.

 

They might have some belongings of their own, and if they needed anything else, they could purchase it after returning to the village.

 

These items didn’t need to be bought all at once, but rather when they returned to the slave management office the next day.

 

In a blink of an eye, it was the last day in the capital. Today, Jing Yi would meet with shopkeeper Huang to meet with his older brother.

 

Huang said that his older brother was a part of their family, as they had been given the Huang family’s surname since the generation of their grandparents. From their generation onwards, with the master’s favor, they had been removed from slave status. Now they were servants in the Huang family, overflowing with gratitude.

 

As Jing Yi considered Huang’s deep respect for the Huang family, he felt that the Huang family was in good hands.

 

“Brother! Haha, let me introduce you. This is my close friend I met in Fuyang Town, Jing Yi.”

 

Gathered at the “Jixiange Pavilion” in the capital, as soon as Jing Yi and his group entered the private room “Tianzi No. 3” on the third floor, shopkeeper Huang couldn’t wait to show off his young and promising brother to his older brother.

 

He was quite informal with his older brother, not at all restrained, and their laughter and camaraderie indicated their strong brotherly relationship.

 

“Humph! You rascal, you dare call someone your little brother. How audacious you are! How old are you already!”

 

First, he teased shopkeeper Huang, then he turned to Jing Yi with a friendly smile, saying, “Brother Jing, please have a seat! Since you called him big brother, you must be my brother too. No need to be formal, just relax.”

 

“Haha, alright, I’ll call you ‘Big Brother Huang’ and him ‘Second Brother Huang’ from now on!” Jing Yi had always been straightforward.

 

In an instant, he became fast friends with the two older gentlemen. The three of them chatted and laughed, discussing their business approaches, current news, and their family matters. At one point, shopkeeper Huang teased Jing Yi about being a bit of a “homebody.”

 

When Jing Yi’s expression conveyed his pride and reluctance to be labeled as a “homebody,” it seemed that Huang Big Brother had found a kindred spirit, and he immediately raised his glass for a toast.

 

“Brother Jing, speaking of which, my big brother, in his letter, mentioned some collaboration project with Huang Yansen. What’s it all about?” After the merriment, Big Brother Huang, still sober, got to the point.

 

“Look at me, I’m delighted to meet you today, and nearly forgot about the important business,” Jing Yi said and retrieved a package he had placed on a nearby cabinet. He opened the oil-paper package for the two brothers, saying, “Please have a look. This is the item. Big Brother, please arrange for a basin of clean water.”

 

When the water arrived, shopkeeper Huang touched the yellow and white brick-like solid substance, sensing its texture without any dirt. His keen business instincts led him to guess the nature of this material.

 

“Is this soap?” asked shopkeeper Huang.

 

“Big Brother Huang, you have a sharp eye! It’s a soap-like substance, even better than soap!” Jing Yi affirmed confidently.

 

“It looks more elegant and translucent than ordinary soap, with its yellow and white colors. How is its cleaning effect?” shopkeeper Huang went straight to the core question.

 

At this moment, the water had arrived. Jing Yi smiled confidently and said, “Please watch.”

 

He dipped a chopstick into some oily residue from a dish, and it was so greasy that it made shopkeeper Huang unable to look directly. Then, Jing Yi took the yellow soap and washed his hands. After just a few rubs, the grease was completely removed.

 

The key here was that the cleaning and degreasing effect was top-notch, astonishing the Huang brothers.

 

Ordinary soap nuts or even high-quality soap like soapberry, although effective, required a considerable amount of effort and time to clean grease. They often struggled to clean stubborn stains or sweat stains on clothes. Wealthy families might just dispose of the stained clothing, while poorer folks had to keep wearing them, enduring the criticism. Furthermore, there were times when even if stains were removed, the soap left a greasy feeling on hands.

 

“This can also be used for washing clothes, even better than soap nuts or soapberry. The one in my hand is the regular version, and I’ve also made a version with added goat’s milk, the white one. Could you please fetch another basin of water, young lad?” Jing Yi asked as he explained to the young server.

 

After the water was brought, Jing Yi took a dirty rag from a small cabinet near the door and started washing it using the soap and water. In no time, the stains on the cloth were completely removed.

 

Seeing this, shopkeeper Huang opened his mouth in amazement and exclaimed, “How… how did you make this? Why didn’t you tell me about this incredible product you have?! How is it made?!”

 

“Huang Yansen, watch your words!” Big Brother Huang scolded his younger brother loudly, his face darkening.

 

The way he put it was just too improper! It sounded like they were forcing someone to reveal their secret recipe.

 

Second Brother Husng realized his mistake and quickly apologized to Jing Yi, saying, “Brother Jing, I’m really sorry. Please don’t take offense. I was just in a hurry.”

 

In fact, he knew he couldn’t handle this valuable product on his own; it would take the help of his Big Brother.

 

“Second Brother Huang, where’s the harm? I came across this method by chance in a miscellaneous book. To be honest, I’m not that clever. I had to experiment for a long time before finally figuring out the process,” Jing Yi waved his hand to show he wasn’t bothered.

 

“What’s more, you were praising how amazing your Big Brother was in Fuyang Town, which gave me the great opportunity to approach him directly for cooperation. We can make big money together, and I can also have a chance to learn from you two! So, I thought about having your Big Brother teach us!”

 

Surprisingly, Jing Yi’s words appeased the two brothers. Second Brother Huang began to enjoy his drinks with a grin, and Big Brother Huang stopped scolding his younger brother, giving him a good-natured look.

 

Big Brother Huang and Second Brother Huang, although still technically slaves of the Huang family, had delegated their family business responsibilities to trustworthy and capable subordinates. The head of the household in both the main branch in the capital and the branch in Qingzhou had chosen the path of official careers, entrusting their family’s industries to reliable subordinates.

 

For instance, Big Brother Huang and Second Brother Huang were under the direct command of the eldest son of the Huang family in Qingzhou, who was also expected to be the heir of the Huang family. Moreover, the eldest son’s wife and the firstborn of the main branch in the capital both hailed from the prestigious southern family, the Xue family, where they held important positions. These familial relationships strengthened their bonds, making them even closer.

 

It was clear to anyone with discerning eyes that the Huang family branches in the capital and Qingzhou were currently working closely together and were likely to form a deeper alliance.

 

Jing Yi’s choice of a business partner couldn’t have been better or more fortunate.

 

“Brother Jing, I’ll be honest with you. With a product as good as this, we may need the support of my family’s main household to truly grasp it. But rest assured, the Huang family never resorts to exploiting others or doing dishonorable business. We want to discuss how you plan to cooperate,” shopkeeper Huang asked earnestly.